Kamala Sarup: Impact of Terrorism on Press Freedom

Impact of Terrorism on Press
Freedom

Every year on the 3rd of May
journalists all over the world celebrate World Press
Freedom Day to reiterate their commitments to fundamental
principles of press freedom and freedom of expression. As
internal and cross-border conflict continues across the
world, journalism remains a glamorous, yet one of the most
risky professions. Altogether 78 journalists were killed in
the year 2004 while covering violent conflicts.
Twenty-three journalists were killed in Iraq alone.

Since
the Philippines gained independence in 1986 some 56
journalists have been killed there including 12 in 2004.
More than 300 journalists have been murdered in Latin
America in the past 15 years; that is, at the rate of more
than 20 journalists every year. Under Castro's Cuba, 30
journalists were slapped prison terms during a crackdown
last year.

A World Press Freedom Day conference at the
Frontline Club in London on Tuesday will provide a forum to
discuss challenges being faced by the media personnel
worldwide. The statistics are staggering: more than 500
journalists have been murdered in the past decade. In 8
cases out of 10, the killers walk free. The conference,
organised by the World Association of Newspapers (WAN),
among others, will bring together colleagues and family
members of murdered journalists to share their
testimony.

Nepali Journalists, too, have been subjected to
threats, arrests and other untenable actions by both the
government and insurgents over the past year. The frequency
and severity of such assaults have increased in recent
years. A number of journalists have been killed or made to
disappear. On 2 September 2004, Bijaya Mishra, a reporter
with Kantipur daily in Siraha received death threats from
Maoists for allegedly not reporting the arrest of a local
Maoist leader. Mishra was told he would suffer the same fate
as journalist Dekendra Thapa who was killed on 11 August.

Last year, the rebels brutally killed Dekendra Raj Thapa,
a reporter with the state-run Radio Nepal in Dailekh
district. A Paris-based press freedom watchdog, Reporters
Without Borders said it was shocked and revolted by this
barbaric murder.

Another journalist, Gyanendra Khadka,
with the government ne! ws agency Rastriya Samachar Samiti
, was killed by Maoists sometime back at Jyamire in eastern
Sindhupalchowk District. Maoists threatened to kill 10
journalists in Dailekh and Achham districts. It is but
obvious that the insurgents would turn into a gang of
criminals if they do not correct their behaviour in time.

Nearly two months ago, a group of unidentified assailants
entered office of Dharan Today newspaper in the eastern
district of Sunsari and shot its editor Khagendra Shrestha.
Shrestha later succumbed to injuries while undergoing
treatment at a private hospital in Siliguri, India, Security
officials blamed Maoists for the incident while the
insurgents haven't said anything in this regard as
yet.

Despite such risks, media personnel put themselves
under risk to gather news. Daniel Pearl was a victim of
terrorism. Daniel Pearl was naive to think that he, a
westerner, could wander into militant areas in Pakistan in
safety gathering news. Terrorists also kill or hold
journalists for ransom or for publicity. The threat of
terrorism to the freedom and independence of media can be
both direct and indirect.

No one has ever been convicted
of these killings and nobody has been brought to justice.
The deliberate targeting of journalists by those who seek to
prevent media from exposing their activities represents a
worrying trend in the world.

The continued violence
directed towards media, including killings, cannot be
allowed to continue. The criminalization of politics,
violence of terrorists and rebel groups have all
contributed to the creation of a climate that legitimizes
use of force against journa! lists. A responsible press is
also a self-regulated press. So, Media can play an
objective role in society and respect human security. There
can no longer be any excuses, no acceptable argument for
killing a journalist. Crime against journalist—who is also a
human rights defender-- is simply unacceptable.

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